Shirley A. (Kraus) Brinkman

Shirley A. (Kraus) Brinkman, age 77 of Appleton, WI passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 1, 2024 at Oakridge Gardens Nursing Center in Menasha, WI.  She was born on February 10, 1947, daughter of the late Clarence and Marcella (Wagner) Kraus.  On October 17, 1964 she married Gerald Brinkman; they enjoyed 60 years of marriage.

Shirley enjoyed through her lifetime; snowmobiling, spending time with grandkids, holidays, traveling, watching the Packers, neighborhood get togethers, her cats, and feeding the neighborhood squirrels. She also enjoyed collecting Lucy & Me bears and TY bears.

Shirley worked for Electronic Assembly (Plexus) for 22 years. Then Digital Diversified Industry up to retirement.

Shirley is survived by her husband Jerry, her children, Wendy Sewell and Jon (Janet) Brinkman; her grandchildren, Jeremy (Chelsea) Sewell, Renee (Danny) Novak, Jared Sewell, Shana Brinkman and Tanner Brinkman; her great grandchildren, Lincoln, Emersyn, Raelynn and Norah; her siblings, Alice Eggert, Bob (Sandy) Kraus, Delores (Neal) Hembel, Carol (Mike) Sly, Mary (Jim) Killen, Ron Kraus and Sharon Heimmermann. She is further survived by many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister Kathleen Klein and her brother Dan Kraus.

The Funeral Service for Shirley will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 5pm at Valley Funeral Home; 2211 N. Richmond St. Appleton, WI. A time of visitation will be held at 3pm until the hour of service.  Burial will be in Highland Memorial Park, Appleton, WI.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Oakridge Gardens for their care and compassion and for the many hugs they provided to Shirley.

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